College championship season is upon us. The B1G Ten Conference Championship for men and women is taking place at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The women’s conference is February 15-18 and the men’s conference is February 22-25. Below you will find a list of great places to eat during your stay for both meets. If you are an athlete looking for places to eat or a parent, this list is perfect for you. Ann Arbor has so many amazing restaurants that you don’t have to eat anywhere twice! Just head to Main Street in Downtown Ann Arbor and you will find a good selection of places to go. Below are some restaurant recommendations for you:
Stray Hen Cafe
website: https://www.restaurantji.com/
403 E Washington, Ann Arbor MI 48104
This restaurant is great for a healthy breakfast or lunch while having great prices. Some recommendations from the menu are:
The Oatmeal Bar is a great choice for breakfast. They have old fashioned oatmeal that are dairy free and you can choose up to 4 toppings from fresh fruit, nuts & seeds, dried fruit and sweet things. Oatmeal is a great thing to have first thing in the morning to replenish your carbohydrate stores, is easily digestible and keeps you full for a while. Add your own peanut butter or almond butter for healthy fats and proteins.
The Grainy Day Breakfast Bowl is a healthy breakfast option with protein from a poached egg, as well as sweet granny smith apples, sweet potato and healthy carbohydrates of farro, amaranth and quinoa. This meal is loaded with wonderful choices and savory tastes to keep you full and ready to race.
The Protein Plate is a good option for lunch with 2 eggs poached or hard boiled, your choice of protein and 3 choices of veggies.
Palio Ann Arbor
347 S Main St, Ann Arbor MI 48104
This restaurant is perfect for takeout or sit down with a wonderful Italian fare. Some things to consider trying are:
Spaghetti Pomodoro with your choice of protein: chicken, sausage, meatballs, shrimp or salmon.
Salmone Picatta is perfect for salmon lovers and will help increase your Omega 3’s as well as help decrease inflammation. The side of potatoes and veggies will be great additions of carbohydrates.
Pollo al Marsala is a delicious chicken breast with mushrooms, potatoes and seasonal veggies. The chicken is a great choice of lean protein and the side of potatoes and veggies will be great options for carbohydrates.
First Watch
3059 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
First Watch is one of my favorite breakfast options. If you get done with prelims early and aren’t exactly ready for a lunchtime meal you have to try this restaurant. Some great options to eat are:
Avocado Toast with whole grain toast is a great form of carbohydrates, topped with fresh smashed avocado as a healthy fat. EVOO, lemon, and sea salt are wonderful, delicious toppings. Topped with two cage free basted eggs as a great source of protein.
Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowl is full of fiber and antioxidants that help keep you full. Kale has vitamins C, K and iron. Shredded carrots are a good source of beta carotene, fiber and vitamins. Roasted tomatoes are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. Chicken breast is a great source of lean protein. Basil pesto sauce is full of tons of antioxidants. Feta crumbles are filled with calcium and fresh herbs to taste.
Morning Market Veg Omelet has house roasted zucchini that is filled with antioxidants. Crimini mushrooms are a great source of carbohydrates and protein. Shallots and tomatoes are full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Kale has vitamins C, K and iron. Topped with goat cheese and fresh herbs to taste, and eggs are a great option for easy protein to aid in recovery.
Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina
3050 Washtenaw Ave #112, Ann Arbor Mi 48104
Bigalora is a wonderful contemporary Italian restaurant with wood-fired pizzas and pastas. Some things to try are:
Wood Roasted Salmon made with a lean protein full of omega 3’s to help decrease inflammation and sides of warm ancient grains, tomato and fennel sauce. The fennel is a great aid for digestion.
Chicken Parmigiana is a great choice with all natural cage free chicken as a lean protein source and easily digestible. Perfect for a dinner after racing to help aid in your recovery and fueling.
Jerusalem Garden
314 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor MI 48104
Jerusalem Garden is a great quick place to eat that offers Lebanese cuisine. A few great things to try would be: Chicken Shawarma Meal with a side of house rice, Chicken Kabob with Fattoush Salad, and any of the vegetarian sandwiches! This place has great hummus and is great for takeout or dine in.
Top 5 Fan Picks
If you are a family member or fan that will be attending the meet here are some great restaurants to try! Swimmers, you can try these places once the meet is over. Some of these places would be great to go to for a team dinner post competition.
- Isalita is located at 341 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 and is a mexican street food inspired with amazing tacos and tapas. Definitely a delicious and fun place to go with friends or family and order some shared plates.
- Blue Tractor BBQ & Brewery is on 207 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 is a great BBQ joint with great biscuits. This will easily become your favorite BBQ place.
- Frita Batidos Ann Arbor located on 117 Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 is a Cuban street food inspired restaurant. It is a tiny restaurant where you can order burgers, fries, batidos (shakes) and churros for dessert.
- Zingerman’s Roadhouse or Delicatessen is a wonderful American comfort food style restaurant located on 2501 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 while the Deli is located at 422 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. They have amazing sweet potato fries and pimento cheese appetizers and the Deli has great options for sandwiches and sides.
- Jolly Pumpkin Cafe & Brewery is a local restaurant with pizza, salads, sandwiches as well as large plates. The pizza and appetizers are delicious. Perfect for a family dinner and located at 311 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
We hope you have enjoyed our restaurant recommendations for Ann Arbor, Michigan. Best of luck to those of you competing at the Women’s & Men’s B1G Ten Championships! As always, let us know how you enjoyed these places by posting a photo on social media and tagging @ericabeine.
